NBS Providers
Georgia’s Newborn Screening (NBS) Program is a state-mandated program within the Georgia Department of Public Health. The NBS Program in Georgia operates as a universal access, coordinated, multi-partner system dedicated to the early identification and intervention of congenital and heritable conditions through efficient screening, follow-up, consultation, tracking, data analysis, and educational initiatives.
Delivery Hospitals and Facilities
It is the responsibility of the delivery facility, birthing center, physician’s office, or other healthcare facility in which each infant is born to ensure that a newborn screening dried blood spot (NBS DBS) specimen is collected and submitted to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing for select endocrine and genetic metabolic conditions. Testing for congenital hearing loss and CCHD must also be completed, and results recorded in the clinical record, reported to DPH, and shared with the infant’s parent or guardian.
If the birth occurs outside a delivery facility, birthing center, or other healthcare facility, then it is the responsibility of the attending physician or midwife to properly complete NBS DBS specimen collection and submit the NBS DBS card to Georgia Public Health Laboratory.
Healthcare Providers
The provider listed on the NBS DBS card as the pediatrician after discharge will receive the results of newborn screening for metabolic and endocrine disorders and is responsible for contacting the family to arrange diagnostic testing and follow-up as indicated. If the infant is seeing a different healthcare provider than listed on the NBS DBS card, the family must inform DPH immediately (email [email protected]) so the correct provider can be notified.
The PCP will provide the family with the NBS results and education. The PCP may be asked by a state-designated follow-up program to do one or more of the following:
- Contact the family to bring the infant in for an assessment. Infants should be assessed as soon as possible. The follow-up program may advise that an immediate assessment or referral to an emergency department is necessary for some infants.
- Repeat the newborn screen - Many infants will need a repeat screen to confirm a diagnosis. The follow-up program will include this request in the verbal and/or faxed report.
- Collect diagnostic test samples - Some infants will require diagnostic testing. The follow-up team's verbal and faxed report will include information on how to do this, details on which tests to order, and recommended labs.
- Refer the infant for confirmatory testing - Some infants may need to be referred to a specialist for additional testing to confirm a diagnosis. The follow-up program will provide this guidance to the PCP.
Delivery Facility and Healthcare Provider Resources
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How do I order What Every Parent Should Know brochures?
The delivery facility, birthing center, or other healthcare facility in which the infant is born is responsible for ensuring parents are given a copy of "Georgia Newborn Screening Program: What Every Parent Should Know." DPH offers free brochures to the submitting facility. Email [email protected] to order NBS brochures.
A copy of the brochure can be downloaded below.
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What Every
Parent Should Know brochure
(English and Spanish)
DPH's brochure provides an overview of the newborn screening tests performed at birth.
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Blood Screening
brochure insert
(English and Spanish)
DPH's insert provides additional information about the blood screening performed at birth that corresponds with the brochure.
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What Every
Parent Should Know brochure
(English and Spanish)
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Where can I find NBS reporting forms?
A list of frequently used NBS reporting and referral forms are listed below. Please contact [email protected] if you need additional assistance.
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Delayed Screening
Report Form
DPH's form should be used to report delayed screening results for hearing and CCHD screenings that were not reported on the dried blood spot card at birth.
Newborn Hearing Screening Results and Recommendations Form - DPH's form can be used by delivery facilities and other providers to provide hearing results and recommendations to a child's parent or guardian.
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Declaration of
Religious Objection to Newborn Screening form
DPH's form can be used by delivery hospitals or facilities that do not have their own internal form to capture NBS refusals due to a religious objection.
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Children 1st
Screening and Referral Form
DPH's form should be completed to report children from birth to five years of age with specific conditions and risks identified at birth to DPH's Children 1st Program
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Delayed Screening
Report Form
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How can I access newborn screening results?
Authorized providers can access newborn screening results through eReports, SendSS, or through an NBS authorization request form completed by the individual or individual's parent or guardian.
- eReports Web Portal
Licensed physicians, physician assistants, and registered professional nurses can request access to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's web portal to access newborn screening results 24/7.
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DPH Newborn
Screening eReports Web Portal Access Request Form
Licensed physicians, physician assistants, and registered professional nurses can request access to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's web portal to access newborn screening results 24/7. The completed access request form can be emailed to [email protected]. Licenses will be verified before access is approved.- The portal contains results for specimens received on or after July 11, 2011.
- If you have eReport access questions, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at (404) 327-7950 or email [email protected].
**If you need assistance resetting your eReports account log in credentials, please email [email protected].
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DPH Newborn
Screening eReports Web Portal Access Request Form
SendSS Newborn Screening Results
Authorized providers can access unofficial copies of archived reports in SendSS for birth dates from the year 2000 through 2007. These archived reports may be needed for student athletes attending college and in need of documentation of their sickle cell status.To register, visit SendSS and fill out the online registration form. Select SendSS Newborn and Newborn Screening Results as the required access.
**If you need assistance resetting your SendSS account log in credentials, please email [email protected].
- Patient Authorization Release Form
Providers seeking NBS results, including sickle cell results, please email a completed Authorization for Release of Newborn Screening Report form to [email protected] or fax a request to (404) 657-2773.-
Authorization for
Release of Newborn Screening Report (2023)
DPH's form should be completed by the child's parent or legal guardian and submitted with proof of identify (e.g., driver's license, passport) to the Georgia Newborn Screening Program.
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Authorization for
Release of Newborn Screening Report (2023)
- eReports Web Portal
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How do I order newborn screening collection cards and envelopes?
Submitting providers can request newborn screening cards from the Georgia Public Health Laboratory using the collection outfit order form below.
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DPH's Specimen
Collection Outfit Order Form
DPH's Specimen Collection Outfit Order Form should be completed to request newborn screening collection forms and mailing envelopes for newborn screening.
Newborn Screen Collection Forms and Mailing Envelopes for Newborn Screen are located on the bottom right of the form.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at (404) 327-7950 or email [email protected].
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DPH's Specimen
Collection Outfit Order Form
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Where can I find NBS training resources?
DPH has created newborn screening trainings and resources specific to Georgia's policies and procedures.
Newborn Screening Policy and Procedures-
Georgia Newborn
Screening Policy and Procedure Manual
DPH's policy and procedure manual provides guidance on the implementation of newborn screening for genetic/metabolic, hearing, and critical congenital heart disease screening.
- Georgia Newborn Screening Training
DPH created a series of recorded trainings that provide an overview of the newborn screening requirements in Georgia.
Newborn Dried Blood Spot Screening- DPH Newborn Screening Specimen Collection Training Video
DPH created a NBS training video that provides an overview of how to collect a dried blood spot specimen.
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Dried Blood
Spot Specimen Collection Checklist
DPH created a Newborn Screening Dried Blood Spot Specimen Collection Checklist to help guide providers through the dried blood spot specimen collection procedure.
- NBS Reference Guide of Genetic Disorders
Hearing Screening -
Georgia Newborn
Screening Policy and Procedure Manual
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How do I resolve unsatisfactory newborn screening results?
It is the responsibility of the delivery facility and the listed provider to contact the parents/guardians of an infant from whom the initial specimen was unsatisfactory to coordinate a repeat newborn dried blood spot specimen collection.
Submitters who collected an unsatisfactory specimen will receive notification from the Georgia Public Health Laboratory advising them of the reason the initial specimen was unsatisfactory and the need to recollect and submit a specimen using a new newborn screening card.
Laboratory Resources
- Georgia Public Health Laboratory Newborn Screening Unit
This link is to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's Newborn Screening Unit webpage.
- Unsatisfactory Newborn Screening Card Result
This link is to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory's Newborn Screening Unit webpage and provides information about unsatisfactory newborn screening card results.
If you have additional questions, please contact the Georgia Public Health Laboratory at (404) 327-7950 or email [email protected].
- Georgia Public Health Laboratory Newborn Screening Unit
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How do I contact the NBS Follow-Up Programs?
The Georgia Newborn Screening Program contracts with Augusta University, Emory University, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia to provide follow-up services to newborns with a positive newborn screening result for specific genetic conditions, sickle cell disease, or sickle cell trait. You may receive a fax, phone call, or letter from these organizations. It's important to schedule follow-up testing/treatment as soon as possible to make sure your patient receives needed care.
Contact Information:
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- Emory Newborn Screening Follow-up Program
Organic Acid Disorders, Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders, Amino Acid Disorders, Lysosomal Storage Disorders, Endocrine Disorders, and Other Disorders
Contact Number: (404) 778-8560
Fax Number: (404) 778-8564
www.med.emory.edu/departments/human-genetics/patient-care/newborn-screening.html
- Augusta University - Newborn Screening Sickle Cell Follow-Up Program
Contact Number: (706) 721-6251
Fax Number: (706) 721-5769
www.augustahealth.org
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Newborn Screening Sickle Cell Follow-Up Program
Contact Number: (404) 785-1087
Fax Number: (404) 553-9813
www.choa.org
- Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia - Sickle Cell Trait Follow-up Program and Sickle Cell Assistance Services
Contact Number: (404) 755-1641
Parent Education: (404) 755-1641 extension 203 or extension 235
Family Services and Support: (404) 755-1642 extension 234
Fax Number: (404) 755-7955
www.sicklecellga.org
- Emory Newborn Screening Follow-up Program
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What hearing loss conditions are reportable to DPH?
Mandatory Reporting of Hearing Loss in Georgia
Hearing loss is defined as a threshold average of 15 dB or greater between 500Hz - 4000Hz, whether unilateral (in one ear) or bilateral (in both ears).The following conditions related to hearing loss are required to be reported to Public Health:
- Newborns “referring” (failing) the initial or follow-up hearing screening, due to suspected hearing loss: Newborns that fail a newborn hearing screening are to be reported to their local Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Coordinator immediately following screening or at least within 7 calendar days via "Newborn Hearing Screening Results and Recommendation" form .
- Children through the age of five (5) years with the initial confirmation/diagnosis of suspected permanent hearing loss, measured and described by a licensed audiologist, are required to be reported within 7 days of diagnosis. Results should be submitted via SendSS. If the provider does not have a SendSS account, they may utilize the “Surveillance of Hearing Loss” form and send the completed form to the EHDI Coordinator in the health district where the child resides.
Information for Hospitals and Birthing Facilities:
Quarterly Data Reports should be submitted to the Georgia Department of Public Health via the EHDI Coordinator in the health district where the hospital or facility is located. Electronic reporting into SendSS is strongly recommended, but can also be reported by paper by fax to (404) 657-2773 or email to [email protected].
Important Newborn Screening Update - October 10, 2024
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF REGULATIONS Revisions to Chapter 511-5-5 Testing for Inherited Disorders in the Newborn